Printing apparatus with detack device

Abstract

A compact, inexpensive paper detack device has a detack claw mounted to the bottom of a cleaning assembly has a rotatably mounted shaft supporting the detack claw, a pair of shaft support members extending downward from the cleaning housing each having a recess in its lower corner adjacent the imaging member for supporting the shaft and at least one elastic support member extending downward from the cleaning assembly in cooperative association with the pair of shaft support members pressing the shaft into the recess. The elastic support member has a tip bent forward toward the shaft forming a bearing space between the recess and the tip smaller than the diameter of the shaft to provide a snap fit for the shaft on insertion into the bearing between the recess and the elastic support member. The detack claw has an elastomeric tip and the angle between the bottom of the claw and the tangent at the contact point between the detack claw and the drum is between 120° and about 140°. The detack claw is attached to an axially slidable member rotatably mounted to the shaft having a groove therein for removing foreign matter entering the space between the shaft and the axially slidable member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a electrostatographic printing apparatus including an imaging member and a cleaning assembly, a paper detack device having a detack claw mounted on the bottom of the cleaning assembly such that the top of the claw is brought into contact with the imaging member detacking a copy sheet therefrom, said detack device including a rotatably mountable shaft supporting said detack claw, a pair of shaft support members extending downward from said cleaning assembly each having a recess in its lower corner adjacent said imaging member for supporting said shaft and at least one elastic support member extending downward from said cleaning assembly in cooperative association with said pair of shaft support members for pressing said shaft in said recess. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, including a pair of elastic support members positioned intermediate said pair of shaft support members on the side opposite said shaft. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic support member has a tip that is bent forward toward said shaft forming a bearing space between said recess and said tip smaller than the diameter of said shaft to provide a snap fit for said shaft on insertion into the bearing between the recess and the elastic support member. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said pair of elastic support members has a tip that is bent forward toward said shaft forming a bearing space between said recess and said tip smaller than the diameter of said shaft to provide a snap fit for said shaft on insertion into the bearing between the recess and the elastic support member. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said imaging member is a rotatable drum. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cleaning assembly and said imaging member are mounted together in cooperative association as a processing unit. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said cleaning assembly and said imaging member are mounted together in cooperative association as a processing unit. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said detack claw comprises an elastomeric tip and the angle between the bottom of said detack claw and the tangent at the contact point between the detack claw and the drum is between about 120° and about 140°. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said elastomeric tip has a hardness of between about 85° to about 98°. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said detack claw is attached to a member which is axially slidable and rotatably mounted to said shaft, said shaft having a groove therein for removing foreign objects entering the space between said shaft and said axially slidable member. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said groove is a continuous circumferential groove on said shaft. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said groove is an intermittent groove on said shaft. 
     
     
       13. In a electrostatographic printing apparatus including a rotatable imaging drum and a cleaning assembly, a paper detack device having a detack claw mounted on the bottom of the cleaning assembly such that the top of the claw is brought into contact with the imaging member detacking a copy sheet therefrom, said detack device including a rotatably mountable shaft supporting said detack claw, a pair of shaft support members extending downward from said cleaning assembly each having a recess in its lower coroner adjacent said imaging member for supporting said shaft and at least one elastic support member extending downward from said cleaning assemblyin cooperative association with said pair of shaft support members for pressing said shaft in said recess, said detack claw comprising an elastomeric tip and the angle between the bottom of said detack claw and the tangent at the contact point between the detack claw and the drum is between about 120° and about 140°. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said elastomeric tip has a hardness of between about 85° to about 98°. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said detack claim is attached to a member which is axially slidable and rotatably mounted to said shaft, said shaft having a groove therein for removing foreign objects entering the space between said shaft and said axially slidable member. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said groove is a continuous circumferential groove on said shaft. 
     
     
       17. In a electrostatographic printing apparatus including an imaging member and a cleaning assembly, a paper detack device having a detack claw mounted on the bottom of the cleaning assembly such that the top of the claw is brought into contact with the imaging member detacking a copy sheet therefrom, said detack device including a rotatably mountable shaft supporting said detack claw, a pair of shaft support members extending downward from said cleaning assembly each having a recess in its lower coroner adjacent said imaging member for supporting said shaft and at least one elastic support member extending downward from said cleaning assembly in cooperative association with said pair of shaft support members for pressing said shaft in said recess, said detack claw being attached to a member which is axially slidable and rotatably mounted to said shaft, said shaft having a groove therein for removing foreign objects entering the space between said shaft and said axially slidable member. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said groove is a continuous circumferential groove on said shaft. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said groove is an intermittent groove on said shaft. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said groove is formed to provide a non-contact area between said shaft and the axial slidable member larger than the contact area between said shaft and the axial slidable member.